HAMPTON FC 0-2 KNOWLE FC: THE MATCH REPORT...

Anticipated Boxing Day Cracker Dampened By December Drizzle

Hampton FC 0-2 Knowle FC

This game lacked excitement and goalmouth thrills, yet it was a local derby encounter and certainly didn’t lack effort, intensity or will. However, it will mainly be remembered for a quick pair of second period goals by Knowle, a remarkable moment of generosity by the Robins’ Louis Bridges, a fine volley by home replacement Alex Considine and a really nasty head injury to Hampton’s Daryl Francis. Much of the remainder of the match will live as long in the memory as the dull, damp, dispiriting weather endured in Field Lane, Solihull. The two goals were actually well taken but hosts Hampton could only manage one other shot during the entire ninety minutes: a low Nathan Wall effort which rolled well wide. There was clearly more dominance by the ascendant visitors but their shooting was often tame, sometimes blocked by good challenges from Hampton’s James Morris, Jack Slevin and James Coney, or it was simply wayward. It was interesting that not only were both number 3s called Hall but also that the two goals came soon after the stalwart Slevin had left the field injured for Hampton. 

THE TOSSING...

 Strangely, for all the running of Kori Edinborough, the flicked headers of Francis and the promptings of Wall, the hosts were unable to cause too much difficulty for the Robins’ defence, in which Lewis Cosgrove and Luke Fox (whose name made me want to yell out “Look, Badger…”) were well supported by the foraging Ash Weeks. However, the finishing by Knowle wasn’t that effective as the half wore on, following a moment of goodwill by Santa Bridges. He benefited from a misjudgement by Hampton’s Coney and found himself with only advancing ‘keeper Matt Allely to beat, within minutes of the start. Unselfishly though, instead of shooting he passed the ball across the penalty-box towards the unmarked Brandon Hague but the ball was slightly behind the striker and this allowed Morris time to block the eventual shot.

BRIDGES TO KICK OFF...

EITHER A SET-PIECE, OR THE DANCERS CAN'T REMEMBER THEIR STEPS...

Visiting skipper Ruck hit three low shots, two of which were claimed safely and smartly by Allely, the other being stopped by Slevin but the rebound from that effort fell to Hague, whose first shot was blocked by Chris Hill and his second was struck past the left upright from 18 yards or so. Jordan Hall shot well wide from downtown but Bridges had wanted a pass on that occasion and certainly made his feelings known. In truth, little else happened before the break for a fag, a cuppa and a fig biscuit.

REF: "YOU CAN'T PRAY THERE, MATE..."

ALL THREE ARE POSING FOR THEIR WAXWORK MODELS TO BE CREATED...

FRANCIS & EDINBOROUGH STANDING...

SOMEONE STILL NEEDS THE LOO...

It was miserable, the rain drizzled mostly, punctuated by one or two light showers and 2pm seemed more like 3.30 with its December gloom. The second period had to be more of an event and it was so, just… Following a low free-kick shot by Jordan Hall which Allely collected easily and then Wall’s attempt for Hampton from 20 yards which at least had Robins’ goalie Craig Johnson diving, following ricochets outside the 18 yard box, the deadlock was finally broken. Hague’s shot was deflected wide for a left-side corner which Zak Harbon curled towards the six yard box and there was Hague with a firm near post header which flew into the corner of the net.

0-1: HAGUE FOR KNOWLE...

I GUESS THAT IS WHAT RELIEF LOOKS LIKE...

A goal… Gods, most spectators whose heads were not bent and eyes not glued to their mobile phones, seemed surprised and moments later they were truly shocked, as Knowle scored again. Having just introduced John Flanagan, the replacement shoved a pass left to Ruck, whose low centre was deflected away towards Harbon at inside-left, around 18 yards out. His rather neat instinctive chipped shot rose over and behind the arching Allely to settle the match for the guests and Harbon’s little skip into the air as he watched his effort drop into the net wasn’t missed by he camera either…

0-2 NOW & HARBON HAS NETTED...

The game wore on, tackles became a little fiercer but the expected feistiness was missing, as the teams traded errors. Then Francis collided aerially with I think Edinborough, and remained down, having sustained a very unpleasant and deep gash to the head. An ambulance was called, I understand but the player managed to walk from the pitch anyway, leaving Hampton with ten players, for all three substitutions had already been made. Yet they made more of a fight of it from then on and after a back-header by Considine had been picked up like a letter from a doormat by Johnson, the ‘keeper reacted superbly to turn over a fine right-footed dipping volley from 16 yards by the same player.

EDINBOROUGH & FRANCIS, ER, NOT STANDING...

WORRIED FACES FOR FRANCIS...

Replacement Charlie Griffiths shot across the face of goal for Knowle, Hague shot past the left stick too then when he was one-on-one with Alleley at inside-left he nicked a low shot just wide of the right post. Following a late Knowle corner, both Hague and Flanagan had shots blocked but really, the game had been killed by the two quick goals earlier in the half. 

A deserved win for the guests, with Weeks working effectively, Hague and Harbon proving to be constant menaces and Ruck looking very influential. George Seeley was busy but unusually he didn’t really get any shooting chances and Corrie Powell supported regularly on the left flank, as Jordan Hall did on the right, wallowing in acres of space.

ABBAS, LEFT: A BRIGHT REPLACEMENT FOR HAMPTON...

Morris was strong for the hosts, Matt Harris and Brad Hall were hardworking full-backs, Hill and Ciaran Connaire attempted to be creative whenever possible but Edinborough and Wall really lacked decent service on offense. Replacement Aon Abbas showed glimpses of skill late on but in all honesty Coney would surely agree that the loss of Slevin was subsequently pivotal in the concession of the two goals.

LOOKING FOR NOAH'S ARK, THESE TWO...

So, a quick journey home for me, which is rare but well done to Hampton for getting the pitch playable and thanks to both sets of coaches and the ladies behind the bar for making me welcome…    

MANSELL HAS 'DISCUSSIONS'...

TEAMS:

HAMPTON FC:

MATT ALLELY, MATT HARRIS, BRAD HALL, JAMES MORRIS, JAMES CONEY (CAPT), JACK SLEVIN, CHRIS HILL, CIARAN CONNAIRE, KORI EDINBOROUGH, NATHAN WALL, DARYL FRANCIS.

SUBS:

TOM HURDY, LUKE BENHAM, ALEX CONSIDINE, AON ABBAS, LAIM MANSELL. 

KNOWLE FC:

CRAIG JOHNSON, CORRIE POWELL, JORDAN HALL, ASH WEEKS, LEWIS COSGROVE, LUKE FOX, STEVE RUCK (CAPT), GEORGE SEELEY, LOUIS BRIDGES, BRANDON HAGUE, ZAK HARBON.

SUBS:

CHARLIE GRIFFITHS, JOHN FLANAGAN, NATHAN CORRY, JACK MOSS, NIC OAKLEY.